The City of Chilliwack must build a pre-treatment facility to handle the extra waste water that will be produced by the proposed Molson Coors brewery.

Last week, council selected a company to supply the “anaerobic” waste water treatment system for the pre-treatment facility, which will be built at the city’s existing waste water treatment plant before the brewery’s opening in mid-2018. Such facilities use microorganisms that exist in the absence of oxygen to break down organic materials in waste.

According to a staff report, the “high-strength waste water” generated by the brewery will require “appropriate management to ensure that it does not negatively impact the existing waste water treatment process.” Pre-treatment to reduce the strength of the discharge was identified as the best solution.

The new facility would be paid for through development cost charges and a “capital cost sharing contribution” from Molson Coors, according to the report. The anaerobic treatment system alone is expected to cost over $5 million.

Molson Coors Canada announced last August that it will build a state-of-the-art brewery in Chilliwack to replace its landmark facility at the foot of Burrard Bridge in Vancouver. Construction expected to begin in the spring.

The company considered several locations before selecting Chilliwack. A spokesman said some of the deciding factors were the city’s abundant and high-quality water, and its proximity to the Trans-Canada Highway and Western markets, and the U.S. border.

A 14.5-hectare site along the Trans-Canada Highway in Chilliwack was rezoned for food processing. Molson Coors will build a 21,300-square-metre facility for processing, packaging, warehousing and offices. Brewing will continue at the Burrard Street facility until the new brewery is operating.

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